Nice Video about Latvia

I made it myself.

11. November- The Bear Slayer Day

The date 11. November was landmark date for Latvian Freedom Fighters. In this day the defenders of Riga deafened the pro-German Voluntary Western Russia army or simply the army of Bermont.

In 1918. 18. November the Republic of Latvia was proclaimed in Riga. First year of Latvian state was troublesome, because it had many enemies. The Baltic Germans wanted Latvia as German state, the Soviets in Russia wanted to establish soviet regime,

At first Germans were forced to acknowledge new state but secretly conspired against it. Germans were aware of growing threat from Soviets. In December Soviets came to Latvia. Latvian state had small forces and they were dependent on German soldiers who remained there after the capitulation of German Empire. But Soviet forces were all to  strong and Latvians along with Germans retreated to Curland.  Soviets established  red government in Riga. The government by Pēteris Stučka tried to make social reforms, and made full scale nationalization of farmlands. At first simple Latvians greeted the Soviets, because they offered bread and land. What Karlis Ulmanis national government offered was not enough for them. But soon peasants became disappointed because of land nationalization and growing protests forced Soviets to start Red Terror.

At the same time Latvian national government was at Liepāja. The commander of German armed forces Ridiger fon der Gotlz planed to overthrow the national government. In 1919. 16. April Germans tried to arrest the Karlis Ulmanis government, but whole government except two MP’s escaped to ship Saratov. Despite the failure, Germans made new government lead by Clergyman Andrievs Niedra. In this time in Latvia were three governments, Latvian, Soviet and German. Germans captured Riga and started the White Terror. Goltz ordered his forces to march to Estonia. He wanted to get rid both Latvian and Estonian governments. But this ended in failure as Estonian- Latvian forces defeated Germans in 22. May at Cesis.

Pro-German government ceased to exist and Germans were ordered to leave. The Western Allied powers choose to support Latvian government. In mean time Soviets were still at Latgalia. Latvians planed to drive them out. But Germans got another plans.

In August Germans  allied with Caucasian Cossack adventurer Pavel Bermont-Avalov. He was Munchhausen type adventurer who claimed that he is an  Count. In reality he was an puppet of Goltz  and was dilettante commander. Germans planed that the Bermontd army will disguise as White Guard army against Soviets. Bermont demanded that his army crosses the river Daugava to enter Russia. This meant that his army will take over most parts of Latvia and probably will destroy the Latvian government.

The Karlis Ulmanis rejected this. Bermontd army consisted German soldiers and Russian prisoners of war. They had tanks, artillery and airplanes. Latvian army was weak, they had bad equipment, short of cannons and even lacked boots. But Latvian army was not so weak as shown in movie The Guards of Riga, it was assembled and ready for war and deeply patriotic. The government was sure of their self, there were no one to object need to defend Riga. The unpatriotic and cowardly statesmen Niedre in movie the The Guards of Riga is bad taste of fiction.

Bemont army had 50,000 men, Latvia had 39, 000 men. Bermont army  seized Curland and marched to Riga. At October his army entered the outskirts of Riga. But Latvian army managed to cut bridge over river Daugava so Bermont could not pass. Bridge was not destroyed completely as the movie shows, but just cut in half.

Bermont and Goltz was surprised that Allies showed support to the Latvian army. Their troops could not seize Riga. Then the allied battleships arrived and started to shell the Bermont army. At 10.-11. November Latvians with support of Allied battleships and Estonian armored trains crossed the river and encircled Bermontians and they were forced to flee.

The day of victory is celebrated as the Bear Slayer day. This is because of the new military award the Order of Bear Slayer was established to honor the soldiers. The name of the order comes from 19. century heroic epoch “Bear slayer” by Andrejs Pumpurs.

Medieval Money in Latvia

Field of science researching coins and banknotes is called Numismatics. Coins are great source from you can research the financial and monetary system in the past. Coins are also good to explore the state symbols and personalities, for the coin often depicts state prominences and symbols.

Before the introduce of coin,prehistoric used barter to exchange various things. Barter was used in many prehistoric societies. When civilizations got more complicated they required more stable way of exchange.  In Baltic lands, the most valuable piece of trade was amber. Amber is fossilized   tree resin. It originates from deep pre-human times and can only found at coast of Baltic Sea. Mostly amber is found in Lithuania and Kalliningrad Oblast Russsia and at shores at Curland, Latvia. Ancient Greeks and Romans found amber very beautiful and useful for jewelry. Ancient Greek scientists found that amber can make electricity.  First signs of amber trade was found Middle Neolithic Stone Age. At swamp village of Sārnate locals built amber manufacture. They exchanged amber for flint and shale work tools.

In Bronze Age early Latvians already maintained both st0ckraising and farming economy and craftsmanship. Now locals exchanged cattle, animal fur, amber to bronze casting and bronze tools. First deposits dates from this time.

First coins in Latvia comes from Roman Empire. Roman historian Tacitus in his Germania, writes that local Baltic tribes Aesti (probably Balts) receives money reward with wonder for their amber. It’s probably because local Balts did not know what to do with coin money, they view it as just as some pieces of metal. Despite that they kept and made deposits and took them in their graves, believing it could be valuable in afterlife.  The main Roman value was Libra (pound). After fall of Roman Empire and chaos in Europe Latvia did not receive any coins until 8. century. The main currency was silver witch came from Russia and Scandinavia.

At 9. century Latvia received large amount of Arabian Dirhams. Arabian Caliphate was the main power in that time and it traded with Kievan Russ and the Dirhams came to Latvia on their way to Scandinavia. The museums in Moscow, Stockholm and Tallinn holds much more Dirhams than Eastern European museums. In island of Gotland 40 000 Dirhams has  been found. In Latvia there has been 2 343 Dirhams located. Only 24 exemplars of Byzantine Empire currency silver miliaries.

In 10. century first Western European coins arrived at Latvian land. Silver Denars from Germany, Denmark, Moravia and Hungary. In Western Europe main silver mines were located at Germany and England.  There were many types of coins because the rights of coin forging were for not only Kaisers, but also for dukes, counts and bishops. At 11. century the monetary crisis again made “no coin” period in Latvia. The main currency were silver bars. At this time the most deposits were found.

At 13. century when the age of Crusades emerged the new power re-established coins in Latvia. The new Livonian Confederation issued a Gotlandic currency the Marc of Riga (marca Rigensis).  From middle of 13. century the main coins were one-sided Pheninngs. On coins were depicted the keys of Riga and crossed swords.

Because of inner political crisis in 14. century the coin forging was temporally stopped.  When restarted the new currency was Lübeck Pfennigs. Lübeck was center of Hanseatic League, and Livonian cities were part of it. In 1422.-1426. monetary reform came to effect and Livonian Monetary Union started its work.

Currencies in Livonia were many. 1 Marc was 4 Verdins or 36. Shillings. Sometimes in Livonia silver Dalders and golden Ducats.

The monetary freedom of Livonia were canceled after fall of Livonian Confederation. New powers, Poles, Swedes and Russians issued new currencies. It will be disused in future.

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Sacral Architecture of Medieval Riga

New Catholic Christian German government along with castles and fortifications built many churches to establish their power. Many them still remain in Riga and serves as the monuments of history. Some of the churches are important outside Europe for the church of Saint Peter was tallest tower in Europe for some time.

In old Medieval Riga which today is known as the Old Riga there were eight churches. First versions of these churches were built from wood so we don’t know how they looked like. All churches have many different building stages, so they don’t look monolith, for building time was long and plans changed many times.

First church of Riga was the Dome Cathedral. It was started in 1215. It was finished at 1300. in Romanesque style and Gothic style. Although it has no dome it was called Dome cathedral because Latvian and German name Doms meant cathedral.  Dome Cathedral was Catholic church until 16. century when in the event of Reformation it was given to Lutheran church. Cathedral interior got many Baroque and Classicism style upgrades during the years and today Cathedral is compilation of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Classicism.  In 20. century late thirties around the Cathedral government ordered to remove block of buildings to create new square. The square was called in honor of 1934. 15. May when Karlis Ulmanis came to power. In result the cathedral got its own square which its now called as the Dome square. Square is home to many festivities during the summer, it often serves as the place for political rallies. In summer its best place where to enjoy Latvian beer. One the notable cathedral landmarks are enormous pipe organs built in 1884. and were the largest pipe organs in the world at that time. Organs still works today. Cathedral is also used for academic concerts. During the 1991. January barricade movement cathedral was used as hospital.

Near the Latvian Parliament there is church of Saint James. Church was first mentioned in 1225.  It was built in Gothic style. After the Reformation church became a Catholic Cathedral and the main center for Latvian Catholic church.

St. Peters church was built as merchant church and first mentioned 1216. The church was built in large size and most largest component was its tower. But the tower was destroyed many times. In 1721. the tower was struck by lightning and caught fire. In rescue works Peter I The Great, Emperor of Russia  helped to extinguish burning tower. He was at Riga at the following moment.  In 1941. the tower was again bought down by German artillery shells. Tower was used as observing post for Soviets and was destroyed by Germans. But Germans themselves blamed Jews for the calamity and used this to justify the Holocaust. Church was in ruins for many years until in 1973. it was restored. In 2009. the Church Golden Rooster was bought down for repair works. It was done by skilled Alpinist’s.   Today tower is 123 meters high and is used as tourist attraction. From 70 meters tourists can view Riga from above.

The church of St. John is small beautiful with Gothic look and fine stained glass paintings.

In the Modern age near the old Medieval churches new ones were built. Church of Reformates  was built in 1732. Near the Dome Cathedral in 1785. the Church Our Lady of Suffering a fine Catholic church with magnificent interior. The most recent church is Anglican Church built in 1858. The Church has became notorious for fundamental Christians and homophobes, because the Church leaders openly supports same-sex marriages here.

The three tall towers of Riga Churches made essential Riga landmark. From opposite side of Daugava you can see these three churches as they dominate Riga skyline.